BRADENTON, Fla. (June 1, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs clubbed three home runs Friday, but dropped the series opener to the Bradenton Marauders 8-4 at LECOM Park. Peter Maris, Josh Lowe and Kevin Padlo each launched solo shots against Bradenton (27-22) pitching. All seven Stone Crabs (24-26) hits went
BRADENTON, Fla. (June 1, 2018) - The Charlotte Stone Crabs clubbed three home runs Friday, but dropped the series opener to the Bradenton Marauders 8-4 at LECOM Park.
Peter Maris, Josh Lowe and Kevin Padlo each launched solo shots against Bradenton (27-22) pitching. All seven Stone Crabs (24-26) hits went for extra bases, with Charlotte also accounting for four doubles.
Stone Crabs starter Blake Bivens (1-1) ran into trouble early, allowing a leadoff single to Jared Oliva in the first inning. After a stolen base and wild pitch moved Oliva to third, Albert Baur singled him home to give the Marauders a 1-0 lead. With runners at the corners and one out later in the inning, Alfredo Reyes flew out to deep right, plating Jung Ho Kang to make it 2-0.
After Charlotte got even on the Maris home run and a Robbie Tenerowicz RBI double, Bradenton claimed the lead again in the bottom of the third. Baur walked with one out before Tyler Gaffney singled. Reyes then laid down a bunt single. Pitcher Reimin Ramos fired the ball past the first baseman, allowing Baur to score to make the score 3-2 Bradenton. After a Bligh Madris sacrifice fly made it 4-2, Hunter Owen singled to cap the inning and give the Marauders a 5-2 advantage.
Bradenton added two in the eighth and one in the ninth to secure a four-run victory. Marauders starter Cam Vieaux (4-1) allowed three runs on five hits over six innings to get the win. He struck out eight and walked two.
Lowe was the only Stone Crab to collect multiple hits, while Brendan McKay walked three times.
Charlotte will look to even the series with Bradenton Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Willy Ortiz (4-0, 3.19) makes the start for the Stone Crabs against James Marvel (5-3, 3.92) of Bradenton. Coverage begins at 6:15 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.
